Acoustic rhinometry

Acoustic rhinometry, a relatively new rhinometric method, has gained popularity in recent years because of its apparent ease of use and low cost. The technique, however, has limitations that are not widely appreciated. Furthermore, there is also significant potential for the introduction of operator bias, and the lack of a standardized method of use further confounds this problem. Acoustic rhinometry does have certain advantages over other methods and may be used in situations in which these methods are unsuitable. It is unlikely that this instrument will be used as a routine part of clinical nasal assessment, but it may prove to be extremely useful in nasal research, when its operation becomes standardized.